the dedication of the Methodist Children and Youth Centre.
– Methodist Children and Youth Centre picture.
DEDICATION SERVICE FOR METHODIST CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRE
THE Dedication Service for the Methodist Children and Youth Centre (MCYC), which was originally scheduled to be held on April 12 last year, was eventually held on March 6 this year.
It was attended by the Guest-of-Honour, Dr Ong Chit Chung, MP for Jurong GRC, and many guests. By God’s grace, the weather was perfect! Bishop Dr Robert Solomon officiated at the dedication of the MCYC. The programme culminated in a tour of the new Youth Centre as well as a lunch.
The SARS outbreak last year resulted in the postponement of the Dedication Service. When the MCYC wrote to Dr Ong about the postponement, he responded with these comforting words: “Perhaps, it is for the better.”
On hindsight, it was indeed for the better. Over the one-year postponement, the MCYC was able to review and strengthen key programmes and services. It also established new programmes and services so that it could provide holistic help to the children, the youths and their families. It was able to become a social work agency with relevant help to serve the community better.
The MCYC is committed to the belief of the founder of our Methodist faith, John Wesley. He believed that apart from our personal commitment to God, true holiness must also be expressed by our show of concern, and our involvement in meeting the needs of the community.
Hence, the Dedication Service was an outward expression of the MCYC’s commitment to this belief to serve the people in Bukit Batok to the glory of God.
The MCYC was instituted in 2001. It is a joint project of the Methodist Welfare Services and Barker Road Methodist Church. In the last three years, the centre was able to establish relevant programmes and services to help the children, youths and families of the Bukit Batok community. These programmes and services include school-based social work, before- and after-school care services, a youth centre, a learning centre, counselling services and parenting programmes.
The MCYC has plans to further expand its services to the community. A Parents Resource and Training Centre and a Counselling Centre were opened in mid-April 2004 at Blk 153, Bukit Batok Street 11. The services are aimed at helping families to function effectively, strengthening relationship between spouses, and creating a stable home environment for children to develop to their fullest potential.
Tan Khye Suan is the Acting Director of the Methodist Children and Youth Centre.